Locomotive-boiler furnace.



.l. P. NEFF.

LOCOMOTiVE BOILER FIJHNACE, APPLICATION FILED JULY 24,1913.

1,1 88,055. Patented May 4, 1915,

m llllllllllllllllll I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN P. NEFF, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO AMERICAN ARCH COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELA- WARE.

LOCOMOTIVE-BOILER EURNACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1915.

baflle walls or arches for use in the fire boxes of locomotive boilers.

The object of my invention is to reduce the installation and maintenance cost of arches or bafile walls in locomotive boiler fireboxes; to provide an arch of such form and construction that it can be erected in position and repaired with little expenditure of time and labor, and to provide an arch which shall beconstructed of a single pattern or form of brick and which shall be securely held and maintained in position.

A further object of my invention is to provide a locomotive arch composed of a plurality Of'bI'aIISVBISB rows of identical bricks in which the bricks of each rowshall mutually retain each other in position. (I

A further object of my invention is to provide a locomotive arch supported upon tubes and in which each brick shall have three points of support, all of the bricks being identical informs A further object of my invention is to provide a locomotive arch which shall be composed of a plurality of overlappin bricks which all lie substantially in a single plane and in which each brick shall rest upon two poiiints at one end and one point at its other on A further object of my invention is to securely position an arch body supported upon tubes and composed of a plurality of bricks, in a firebox, by means of side bricks which are ri 'dly positioned between the side sheets and t e adjacent tubes.

A further object of my invention is to provide in a locomotive firebox a refractory arch proper, composed of a plurality of individual bricks resting upon the tubes and free to change its dimensions relatively to its supports, and .held in position by side bricks which extend between and aresupported by the side sheets and the adjacent tubes.

My invention resides in an arch for use in a locomotive firebox, equipped with longitudinally extending water circulatin tubes, which are not necessarily parallel, tie arch being constructed of a plurality of refractory bricks, the main body of the arch resting upon the tubes and being held securely in position by side bricks which rest against the side Sheets of the firebox and upon the adjacent tubes.

My invention consists in a locomotive boiler firebox provided with a refractory arch, the arch being preferably supported upon water-circulating tubes and composed of a plurality of substantially identical bricks mutually'interlocked in position between the s ide sheets of the firebox and upon the arch tubes, and each brick resting upon three points of support.

My invention further consists in a locomotive firebox refractory arch composed of transverse rows of bricks extending from side sheet to side sheet and supported upon longitudinally extending water-circulating ,tubes, the individual bricks being identical in form, the end bricks of the rows being arranged between the side sheets and the adjacent tubes, and being adapted to retain the intermediate bricks in position upon the tubes.

My invention also consists in a locomotive boiler firebox having a plurality of. longitudinally arranged water-circulating tubes, which are not necessarily parallel, in combination with a refractory arch supported by said tubes, the arch proper resting upon the tubes and being capable of changing its dimensions relatively to its supports without undue strains and being held in position by side bricks wedgingly interposed between the side sheets and the adjacent tubes.

My invention also consists in a locomotive boiler firebox arch made up of substantially identical. bricks each having a V-shaped projection'on one end and a complementary V- socket at the opposite end, the socketed ends being of half thickness and thereby providing the brick with a tube-receiving groove or socket and adapting the bricks when alternate bricks are reversed to overlappnd to mutually retain each other in position.

invention also consists in a refractory arch brick, substantially rectangular in form, having a V-projection at one end, and complementary V-socket at the other end, the soclreted end being cut away on one side to substantially half the thickness of the brick. and the brick being tapered in.thick ness from the socketed end to the opposite end.

invention also consists in the various features or" construction, and combinations and relations of parts, whereby a. firebox arch can be provided which fulfils the above and other objects and which is built of one pattern brick so formed that the individual bricks are each provided with three points of support and the adjacent bricks in transverse rows mutually interlock with each other.

My invention will be more readily under-. stood by reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which:

Figure l is a central vertical longitudinal 3 section of a locomotive firebox provided with an arch made in accordance With my invention; Fig. is a transverse section of the firebox taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.; Fig. 3 a detail transverse section of the arch on the line 33 of Fig. 1; and Fi l is an en larged perspective view of one of the arch bricks.

In building arches for locomotive boiler fireboxes, it is a common practice to install longitudinally extending water circulating tubes in the firebox upon which to support or carry a refractory baflle wall orarch and these arch tubes, While they are supposed to bearrangcd in parallel relation, are seldom exactly parallel for the reason that the location of their ends depends to some extent on the position of adjacent stay bolts and rivets. Furthermore, .by reason of the fact that these tubes are usually bent or curved l. etwcen their ends, it is almost an impossibility to secure them in position exactly parallel with each other. For this reason it is desirable that the bricks of which the arch is formed shall be capable of being positioned upon the tubes in such a manner that they will be securely held in position regardless of the exact spacing of the tubes or of the exact distance of the side tubes from the side sheets. The form of brick which I have devised. and with which I build my improved arch, allows of considerable latitude in the positions and spacings of the tubes both as related to other tubes and as related to the side sheets of the firebox Without militating to any extent against theeificiency of the arch or against the security with which the arch as a whole and the bricks individually are held in position against the severe vibration and jarring to which arches in locomotive boilers are subjected in use.

arches other than front arches l r b providing the brick with A locomotive firebox a, the drawings, is made up o. at its for ard end, a rear rear end, side sheets a uni. Flues 0. lead form" are and the rear sheet door or openii with a grate .1. arch, as installed in a is to prevent the direct combustion from the and cause them to lion r; ward thro l interior surface to be thorougbl' mixed and ther gree of economy and eiiicien v While my inventi n ma for the construcaoii 211.11}

30 The firebox shown group of three water which lie in substantialt a which tubes extend from the r the flue sheet upwardly and rearwardly through the firebox to the upper part of the rear sheet. They serve the prhnary nn-pose of increasing the circulatioi l miter in ie boiler and thus adding to the cihc ;y of the firebox. I make 1:. 2 of the tubes as we supporting means for th ll l). The arch, as illustrated, i'zonsis of the arch body proper C, which is laterally con i .c with the group of arch tuber l. r ts upon the tubes, and portio s tuni extend between the side sheets an rent arch tubes. 1 build my arch, of bricks L whic are i0 i" i and size, bei molded in a single nio molds. My object in to r cost of the production at the brim; reduce the c of niair ici" f c a. account of the r bricks which it is ncce ferent points alongtbc ro; u) repairing, of arches. Thesakllt e culiar in l'orm. they a e mu staniia.lv we tangular and are tapered in loudness tron! end to end, the endv b being [hi-flier end. and the end 6 the thinner end.

Half the thickness of the brick cut a groove on channel 6, and a projecting half-thickness ledge or flange 5. and. this end of the brick is also provided with a relatively large V-shau d groove or notch tr o s3 accd pro lprovide x a central jections b upon one are or the opposite end of the lane V-shaped projection b which may be described as complementary to the V-shaped notch or opening 6 provided in the opposite end, and, furthermore, I lighten the brick by providing each face with a shallow de pression b occupying substantially the whole of the body portion of the brick. The bricks as thus formed are adapted to be placed between the side sheets and the ad jacent tube, as clearly shown in the drawings, the tube being received in the groove or notch b of the thick end of the brick and the V-shaped projection I) being ada ted to contact with the side sheet of the rebox. The brick when thus positioned is supported upon two projections b at one end and upon the V-point b at the other end, being thus supported upon three points the brick is securely and rigidly supported in position, even in wnditions where the side sheet of the firebox is not parallel with the adjacent tube. The main body C of the arch is composed of several transverse rows of the bricks, each row being composed of two of the bricks. These bricks are reversed in position, their thick ends being arranged upon the center tube and in overlapped position, whereby the body of the arch at this point is substantially one-brick thick, and the V shaped ends of the bricks are adapted to rest upon the outer tubes and to he received in the notches b of the side bricks and thereby complete the arch. Each of the bricks of the body of the arch thus rests upon three points of support and the bricks are thus held solidly and firmly in position even when the tubes upon which they rest do not lie in a single plane. The arch as thus built is substantially imperforate except for the small openings 0 which are formed between the overlapped ends of the bricks forming the main body of the arch, and as these openings occur directly above the center tube this tube serves practically to close these openings. The main body of the arch as thus formed rests upon the upper surfaces of the tubes and is not bouniirin position thereby, consequently the tubes do not necessarily have to be arranged exactly parallel with each other, but arc tree to be positioned in the firebox in conformity with the individual necessities. F or instance, it sometimes occurs that stay bolts m rivets are arranged in such positions that it is impossible to place the arch tubes exactly parallel with each other. Fu: thcrnrsr'e. the bricks of which the side ymrtions of the arch are composed, can individuall adiust themselves to their positii'ms to he firmly supported between the side sheet and t- 11.4. jaccnt tubes. The mam body of in; 131th is, however, maintained in p-ation and prevented from changing its pus ion sufficicntly to permit the destruci' n oi the $5 arch by the inner ends of the side bricks of the tubes extending from side sheet to side sheet, the intermediate bricks being substantially horizontal and resting upon the upper surfaces of the tubes, the end bricks being arranged as described in upwardly and outwardly inclined positions and retained. in position between the side sheet and the tube. These end bricks, as described, interlock with the intermediate bricks and retain them in position. In some instances I place spacing bricks F between this first transverse row of bricks and the flue sheet to hold the lower end of the arch out of engagement with the fine sheet. Having placed the first transverse row of bricks in position, I place a second transverse row of the bricks, similar to the first row, and resting against and maintained in position by the first row on the tubes. In some instances these two transverse rows provide an arch of sufficient length to produce the results desired, but usually the arch consists of further transverse rows of bricks and for the most economical and best results is usually extended rearwardly to substantially the middle of the firebox.

An arch constructed in accordance with my invention is thicker at the center portion of the arch than along the side portions. This is advantageous, as the center portion of the arch is necessarily exposed to the most severe destructive temperatures and abrasive eli'ects. Furthermore, an arch constructed in accordance with my invention provides relatively small V-shaped openings between the outer edges of the arch and the side sheets through which portions of the rising gases of combustion may pass in contact with the side sheets and thereby add to the ctliciency of the firebox by making use of substantially the Whole of the interior surface of the firebox for the purpose of transmitting the heat from the gases of combustion to the water in the boiler. The recesses or depressions 7; in the brick provide an arch which is more or less rough upon its surface and this roughened surface serves to cause the retarding of pi'u'tions of the rising gases and of the fuel particles ca rricd thereby and :-.*-r.cs to thoroughly intermingle and intermix the gases resulting in the complete oxidation of the fuel. An arch constructed of individual bri ks in the manner described lends ital-it readily to the convenient repair of the firebox, ior the reason that when it is weapon necessary to get at the side sheets or flue sheet for repairs the individual bricks of the arch can readily be removed without destroying or taking down the Whole arch to give this access.

As many modifications of my invention will readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, Ido not limit or confine my invention to the specific structures herein shown and described.

I claim 1. A locomotive boiler firebox having ion gitudinally extending inclined arch-supporting tubes therein, in combination with a refractory front archsupported by said tubes and comprising a plurality of transverse rows of identical bricks arranged end to end. each bricl: having; a V-shapcd projection on one end and a complementary V-shaped cess at the opposite end. the proje .tious and recesses of adjacent bricks being adapted to interfit.

2. A locomotive boiler firebox containing a group of longitudinally extending arr-h supporting tubes. in combination with a refractory arch proper laterally coextensive with said group and comprising rows of bricks overlapping at their inne ends: the outer ends thereof having Vshapcd tions, and similar side bricks resting? at m inner ends upon the side tub-1v ol" th ore" and contacting at their outer Mills 1 side sheets of the firebox. the in H82 and: 1 side bricks spanning, said V-shapcd prontions and limiting the mow-uncut of th an proper on the tubes.

3. A locomotive boiler firebox containing a group of longitudinall extcni'ling arr-in supporting tubes, in ombination with a refractory arr-h extending from side sheet to side sheet and supported hv said tubes. sa d arch having a middle portion transi'ersi y coextensive with said group of tubes coinposed of bricks id ntical in form, each tlHi'uof being cut away at one end to suh 'am tially half the tl iclmr-rss of the brink. adja cent bricks being ailaptei'i to be rcvers i in position with their cutaway portions 1n lapped. the outer ends of said bricks having V-shaped projections which rest upon the outer tubes of the group, side bricks resting on the outer tubes of the group and leaning against the side sheet, the inner ends of said side bricks having projections w ich span the V-shaped points of the middle bricks and adapted to limit the movement of the middle portion of the arch upon said tubes.

4. A locomotive boiler firebox having a group of longitudinall extending arch-supporting tubes therein. in combination with a refractory arch extending from siilc to side sheet and com n'ising a. midd e tion transversely coextensive with said g: of tubes, and side portions extendn tween the sides of said group and ti Qtion oi i l bi.

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inns and iran o Lion tin o... Ji ted W t upon the i atof noon the we himn'iii'itiwa imilor "gi ar a, o l 2, ins): arch ipp-i i h u x' rtw'" l HH: iVdlfUi Ii a. of i lI'ii-Mg a V-Biri} xx omph znlni'j, H Sulfii lh-i i ai'i (K i with their Vslia; fi'nat the side sheets of the and their noogi'ied a on f" side :Ci ooei'e'ing 1 3 of thern n do? l'rol wmn 13o a proimations m oe -xiii to limit the tmnsmi rsn and ion alo e so: of the middle gnit't -z 9?".41 Wee uni-i tubes I I 7, A with other to? a n .8 vw sa in one supporting shaped 80 1,138,055 5; site end complementary to the V-shaped groove adz'lptcd to engage a tube when the rerese.

8. it locomotive boiler firebox containing a group of longitudinally extending wateri'ziiculsting tubes, in combination with a re-- irantory arch supported by the tubes and compoued of a plurality of identical bricks having two symmetrically disposed half tlzi knees prey/cations at one end adapted to c: uierate with the like end of another brick, and u single complementary projection at the her end adapted to cooperate with the oppt e end of a similar brick and whereby each b ick is provided with three points of support, and the arch is shiftable transve cf the tubes.

9 A locomotive boiler firebox containing a group of longitudinally extending arch supporting tubes, in combination with an arch body transversely (Lo-extensive with the group of tubes and resting upon the upper surfaine only thereof, said arch body being composed of a plurality of identical bricks having synnnetrically disposed substantially hali thicl-mess projections at one end adapted to cooperate with the similar end of another brick to form a single thickness arch, and pro iding the brick with a. tube-receiving brick is the adjacent tube, each sa d brick having a central projection at. its opposite end adapt ed to be rec ived between the projectiams on other bricl as; and for the purpose s;iecii uf-ilv 10. A locomotive a group of longitudinally @xfending ate:- circulating tubes. incomhitation with a re fractory arch body supporicd on said tubes and laterally co-cxtcnsive thereuith, said arch body composed of a plurality of indii'idual bricks arranged in a single plane, each thereof being of a length to span and be supported by adjacent tubes, and pro vided upon one end with spaced rojections and upon the other end with a projection complementary thereto and all of said pro jections being adapted to extend beyond the center lines of the supporting tubes.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto my hand, this 15th day of July, 1913, in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN P. NEFF, Witnesses:

EMILY L. MYERS, C. E. FLODINE.

positioned between a, side sheet and boiler firebox containing 

